莱索托ntšekhe政府医院青少年接触前预防的知识、观念和使用情况

IF 2.7 Q2 MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES

Scientific African Pub Date : 2025-07-14 DOI:10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02857

Teboho Lekhutla, Bernard Hope Taderera

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引用次数: 0

摘要

暴露前预防（PrEP）是预防HIV在高危人群中传播的有效生物医学干预措施。然而，尽管证实了预防措施的有效性，但在莱索托青年中，特别是在Ntšekhe政府医院获得服务的青年中，预防措施的使用率仍然很低。本研究旨在评估该医院18-24岁青年对PrEP的知识、认知和利用情况。方法采用横断面调查法，于2024年6 - 7月对152名青少年进行结构化问卷调查。描述性统计用于检查社会人口统计数据、知识水平和观念，而推论分析探讨教育、性别和PrEP利用之间的关系。研究结果显示，71%的参与者知道PrEP，但只有12.5%的人使用过。有趣的是，一个违反直觉的发现出现了：受过高等教育的人，尽管对PrEP的了解明显更好(p <；0.001)，不太可能使用它，这表明内部或结构性障碍。这一意想不到的趋势表明需要进一步的定性调查。性别差异也很明显，与女性相比，男性报告使用PrEP的可能性明显较低(p <；0.001)。中度正相关(r = 0.431, p <；对PrEP有效性的认知与其利用之间存在0.001)。研究结果强调需要有针对性的公共卫生干预措施，以解决知识差距，消除误解，并减少获得PrEP的障碍，特别是在莱索托的年轻人中。扩大PrEP教育和解决性别因素是在这一高危人群中提高PrEP使用率和预防艾滋病毒传播的关键步骤。本研究没有从公共、商业或非营利部门的资助机构获得任何特定的资助。

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Knowledge, perceptions, and utilization of Pre-exposure prophylaxis among youth at ntšekhe government hospital, lesotho

Background

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective biomedical intervention for preventing HIV transmission among high-risk populations. However, despite its proven efficacy, the uptake of PrEP remains low among youth in Lesotho, particularly those accessing services at Ntšekhe Government Hospital. This study aims to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and utilisation of PrEP amongst the youth aged 18–24 years at the hospital.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to July 2024, involving 152 youth who completed structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to examine socio-demographic data, knowledge levels, and perceptions, while inferential analyses explored the relationships between education, gender, and PrEP utilisation.

Findings

The study reveals that 71 % of participants were aware of PrEP, yet only 12.5 % had ever used it. Interestingly, a counterintuitive finding emerged: individuals with higher education, despite demonstrating significantly better knowledge of PrEP (p < 0.001), were less likely to use it, suggesting internal or structural barriers to uptake. This unexpected trend signals a need for further qualitative investigation. Gender disparities were also evident, with males significantly less likely to report PrEP use compared to females (p < 0.001). A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.431, p < 0.001) was found between perceptions of PrEP’s effectiveness and its utilisation.

Interpretations

The findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to address knowledge gaps, dispel misconceptions, and reduce barriers to PrEP access, particularly among young people in Lesotho. Expanding PrEP education and addressing gender-specific factors are crucial steps in improving PrEP uptake and preventing HIV transmission in this high-risk population.